Guy Turcotte murder trial: toxicologist takes the stand

The concentration of methanol in GuyTurcotte'sblood was the equivalent of between three and five beersfor an average-sized man, a defence witness told his first-degreemurder trial Thursday.

Toxicologist Anne-MarieFaucherhad previously testified shefound a potentially fatal dose of methanol inTurcotte'ssystem theday after the February 2009 slayings of Olivier, 5, andAnne-Sophie,3.

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Turcotte, 43, has pleaded not guilty to two charges offirst-degree murder but has admitted to causing the children'sdeaths.

His lawyers are arguing he should be found not criminallyresponsible by way of mental disorder.

The accused testified this week he was determined to die and thathe consumed windshield washer fluid, which contains methanol. Hesaid he could only remember the night of the slayings in"flashes."

Under cross-examination by the Crown, Faucher said she estimatessomeone who has consumed that much beer is "conscious, coherent,able to have discussions and negotiate."

Faucher said such a person "is quite capable of doing what hehas to do," but had noted in her initial testimony one's level ofawareness can be reduced after consuming such levels of methanol.

She explained that the effects of methanol on the human body aresimilar to those from the consumption of ethanol (the alcohol foundin wine or beer), but have less of an impact.

Prosecutor Rene Verret questioned her experience on methanolintoxication, with Faucher replying she has worked only on three orfour similar cases and that the only survivor was Turcotte.

Evidence presented thus far has not established the quantity ofwasher fluid he consumed.

Faucher analyzed the blood and said the dose she found would havebeen fatal had he not been given medical attention.

Later on Thursday, Claude Rouillard, an expert inneuropharmacology, said methanol does result in memory loss.

He referred to a scientific article regarding a mass poisoning inNew York in 1953 where people had been drinking a mix of fake whiskyand methyl alcohol (or methanol).

Several people ended up going to hospital to be treated and hadsuffered major memory loss. Some couldn't recall setting foot in thehospital or how they got there, but they appeared rational whenobserved by medical personnel.

The Crown asserts that Turcotte has a "selective memory" whenit comes to the events of Feb. 20, 2009.

Rouillard's testimony continues Friday.